Line sampling device

ABSTRACT

A line sampling device for obtaining product samples from a pressurized product line where the device has a chamber means having a valve seat on one end adapted to be inserted into the side of the supply line. A plunger having a poppet valve on one end is movable in the chamber and has a baffle means thereon whereby when the plunger is extended, the baffle means will be moved into the flow of product in the supply line to divert flow of product into the chamber, and when the plunger is retracted, the poppet valve will seat on the valve seat to seal the chamber from the interior of the supply line. Purge and flush lines are provided to clean the sampling chamber and to remove product therefrom and safety means are included to assure that the chamber is sealed from the purge and flush lines when open to the product line.

United States Patent Thompson [54] LINE SAMPLING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Albion J. Thompson, Margate, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Great Northern Nekoosa Corp.

[22] Filed: June 18, 1970 121] App]. No.: 47,375

[52] U.S. Cl. ..73/422 TC [51] Int.Cl. [58] Field of Search ..73/422 R, 422 TC, 423 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,370,260 2/1945 Robison ..73/422 R 1,966,712 7/1934 Fisher et a1. ....73/422 TC 3,250,128 5/1966 Cassel ..73/422 R 2,589,712 3/1952 Langsenkamp et al. ..73/422 R 3,241,371 3/1966 I-Ioreth ..73/422 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 807,911 3/1969 Canada ..73/422 R Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince Assistant Examiner-William A. Henry, II Attorney-Pennie, Edmonds, Morton, Taylor and Adams [57] ABSTRACT A line sampling device for obtaining product samples from a pressurized product line where the device has a chamber means having a valve seat on one end adapted to be inserted into the side of the supply line. A plunger having a poppet valve on one end is movable in the chamber and has a baffle means thereon whereby when the plunger is extended, the baffle means will be moved into the flow of product in the supply line to divert flow of product into the chamber, and when the plunger is retracted, the poppet valve will seat on the valve seat to seal the chamber from the interior of the supply line. Purge and flush lines are provided to clean the sampling chamber andto remove product therefrom and safety means are included to assure that the chamber is sealed from the purge and flush lines when open to the product line.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 2 I972 3,659,461

sum 1 UF 2 To Washer INVENTOR Albio n J. Thomp n ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMAY 2 m2 3, 659.461 sum 2 0r 2 -4 INVENTOR Albion J. Thompson l\\\\\\\\ \\\\\\\\i M W TORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is often desirable to take periodic representative samples of a product during processing of the product to assure that it meets specific requirements. In some instances the sample is taken from a pressurized line which conveys the product between process stations, for example, partially digested wood chips that are being removed from a digester through a pressurized blow line. In such instances, it is desirable that the sampling device used to remove the sample chips from the blow line will not impede flow of the chips through the line when samples are not being taken, and that, when samples are being taken, that they be removed from the line substantially at the speed at which they are moving through the line. It is further desirable that the sampling device be of a construction so that it may be used safely with supply lines operating under comparatively high pressures and which at the same time will isolate the sampling area where the product is examined from the high pressures of the supply line.

Line sampling devices proposed heretofore for taking samples of partially digested wood chips from blow lines, for example the device illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,066,539, dated Dec. 4, 1962, would not be able to remove sample chips at a high rate of flow and thus the sample removed might not be truly representative of the product being produced. Further, such devices would not isolate the area at which the sample would be examined from the high pressures of the blow line.

Broadly, I provide for a line sampler which will take a sample product at a high rate of flow from a supply line and at the same time assure that the high pressure within the supply line is not exposed to any area where the sample will be inspected. My device comprises generally a hollow sample chamber means which defines on the interior thereof a sample chamber. One end of the chamber means is secured to the supply line and has a valve seat which extends into the supply line. A movable plunger is included in the chamber and has a poppet valve on one end adapted to seat onto the valve seat and close the interior of the chamber means from the interior of the supply line. The plunger also has a baffle adjacent the poppet valve such that when the plunger is extended and the poppet valve is lifed off the valve seat, the baffle will divert flow from the supply line into the sample chamber. The valve seat is positioned to be substantially flush with the interior side wall of the supply line so that when the poppet valve seats on the valve seat, it is substantially flush with the side wall and thus does not impede any flow of product in the supply line under conditions when a sample is not being taken.

The chamber means is provided with a purge conduit and a flush conduit by which a purge fluid may be introduced into the chamber and whereby the fluid and product may be flushed from the chamber. Both the purge and flush conduits are provided with the valves to control the flow into and out of the chamber and a valve control means is included to provide a safety interlock means to insure that the purge and flush valves are closed when the plunger is extended and product is flowing into the chamber and the chamber is subjected to the pressure of the supply line. Control means are provided such that the sequence of operation of the sampling device is automated to the extent that initial actuation of the sampling device will cause the flush valve to close after which the plunger moves to unseat the poppet valve from the valve seat. After a predetermined period during which the sample chamber becomes filled with product, the plunger will retract to seat the poppet valve and seal off the chamber from the supply line. The flush and purge valves will then open allowing purge fluid to enter into the chamber and to flush out the product in the chamber through the flush conduit where it is moved to a sampling area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a line sampling device constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the line sampling device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a portion of FIG. 2 taken along lines 3 3;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the movable plunger illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the plunger illustrated in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the plunger of FIG. 4 taken along lines 6 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a pressurized product supply line I having a line sampling device 2 attached thereto. The line sampling device comprises a hollow sample chamber means 3 mounted onto the product line 1 by ring clamps 4 and 5.

Referring to FIG. 2 which illustrates the line sampling device in greater detail, it is seen that the sample chamber means 3 comprises a tubular member 6 having a plate 7 welded to one end thereof and an inner tubular member 8 welded to the opposite end thereof such that the parts 6, 7 and 8 define a sample chamber 9. An annular member 10 is mounted on member 8 by means of screws 11 and has thereon an inclined valve seat 12. Seat I2 extends into an aperture cut into the line 1 which aperture is surrounded by a flange l3 welded onto line 1 and on which the'ring clamp 4 is welded. As shown, clamping bolts 14 and nuts 15 clamp the rings 4 and 5 together so that they compress an annular seal 16 to assure fluid-type engagement of the member 3 with the product line 1.

A plunger 18 is included in the chamber 9 and is mounted for reciprocal movement. The plunger 18 has a poppet valve 19 on the end thereof adapted to seat with the valve seat 12 when the plunger is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 2 and to unseat from the seat when the plunger is in the extended position as shown by the dotted lines of FIG. 2. The plunger further has an inclined baffle 20 which in turn is connected with guide wall means 21. A plunger rod 22 is screwed into the end of the plunger 18 and extends through the end wall 7.

The plunger rod has a piston therein not shown which is slidable within the hydraulic cylinder 23 wherein the piston and cylinder act as a hydraulic motor to move the plunger 18. The cylinder 23 is mounted onto the chamber means 3 by a frame 24 which surrounds a stuffing box 25 which provides a seal between the rod 22 and the chamber 9.

As shown by reference to FIGS. 4,5 and 6, the end of the plunger including the poppet valve 19 and the baffle means 20 forms a right-angled, truncated cylinder closed at one end by the poppet valve 19 and at the opposite. end by the baffle means 20. The wall 21 as shown in FIG. 3 slides in a cut-out or key-way portion 26 of a support member 27 mounted in the chamber means and acts to guide the plunger in its movement.

The chamber means has at the top thereof a threaded nipple 28 which as shown in FIG. I connects with a purge line 29 by which a purge fluid may be introduced into the chamber where flow is controlled by motor-operated valve 30. A flush port 31 of larger diameter than the purge conduit is included at the bottom of the chamber means and, as shown in FIG. I, connects with a flush conduit 32 through means of a motorcontrolled flush valve 33.

A limit switch 34 is provided with the flush valve 33 as well as a limit switch 35 with the plunger rod 22 to provide a safety interlock means to prevent operation of the hydraulic motor means driving the plunger in the direction unseating the poppet valve 19 from its seat while the flush valve 33 is open.

The conduit 32 may be provided with a further wash conduit 36 by which introduction of a wash fluid into the line 32 is controlled by valve 37.

The operation of the device is as follows. When the sampling device is inoperative, it will take the position as shown in FIG. 2 where the poppet valve 19 seats with the valve seat I2 to seal the chamber 9 from the product line 1. A start button of a conventional circuit, not shown, is energized to actuate the sampling device to secure a product sample. This will cause the flush valve 33 to close, at which point switch 34 is actuated. Actuation of switch 34 then will cause a hydraulic motor to pressurize cylinder 23 to move the plunger 18 in the left-hand direction as shown in FIG. 2. As the plunger moves, poppet valve 19 will unseat. As the plunger moves further to the left to the position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2, the baffle 20 will be inserted into the flow of the product in line 1 such that a portion of the product will be diverted to flow through the port formed by the annular valve seat 12 into the sampling chamber 9. The construction of the bafile as well as the narrow guide means imparts a minimum resistance to flow of large samples of product, such as wood chips, such that they may flow easily into the chamber. After a predetermined time, hydraulic pressure within cylinder 23 will be reversed to move the plunger in the right-hand direction as shown in FIG. 2 until the poppet valve 19 again seats on the valve seat 12. At this point the limit switch 35 will be actuated which will cause motor-operated flush valve 33 and motor operated purge valve 30 to open. Introduction of the purge fluid through conduit 29 will force the contents of the chamber out through the flush line 32 to a further station where tests may be made on the product. After a predetermined time, valve 30 will close and the device will then-be at its normal inoperative position.

It is seen that the construction of a sampling device as described, because of the configuration of the plunger, will allow product to be diverted into the sampling chamber at a fast rate, thus assuring that the product will be truly representative of the flow of product through line 1. Further, the construction shown minimizes dangers of leaks or blowouts when taking the sample since the sample chamber is sealed off with respect to the flush conduit 32 and purge conduit 29 when the interior of the chamber 9 is subjected to the pressure of line 1. When the flush valve is open, pressure within the chamber will drop and will never be greater than the pressure of the purge fluid entering the chamber. In this manner, the pressure within the line I will always be isolated from the washer or station where the product is removed from conduit 32 for testing and inspection. Also the size or amount of product taken into the chamber will be the same for each sample taken since the amount of product taken into the chamber is determined by the volume of the chamber.

I claim:

l. A line sampling device for obtaining samples or product from a product line comprising, hollow sample chamber means defining a closed sample chamber in the interior thereof and determining the quantity of product to be sampled, a valve seat located on one end of said sample chamber means adapted to be inserted into an aperture of a product line to be substantially flush with an interior side wall of said line, a movable plunger in said chamber, a poppet valve on one end of said plunger adapted to seat on and to be substantially flush with said valve seat when said plunger is in the retracted position to seal said chamber from the interior of said product line, an inclined baffle on said plunger adjacent said poppet valve to direct flow of product from a product line through the valve seat into said chamber when said plunger is in the extended position, and a plunger rod connected to said plunger and extending through a side of said sample chamber means by which said plunger may be retracted and extended.

2. A line sampling device according to claim 1 having in addition a purge conduit connected to said chamber through which a purge fluid may be introduced into said chamber and a flush conduit connected to said chamber through which product and purge fluid may be removed from said chamber.

3. A line sampling device according to claim 2 having in addition purge valve means for controlling flow of purge fluid into said chamber, flush valve means for controlling flow of product and purge fluid from said chamber, purge valve safety control means for preventing opening of said purge valve when said plunger is in the extended position and poppet valve safety control means for preventing extension of sat plunger when said flush valve means is open.

4. A line sampling device according to claim I wherein said plunger comprises a right-angled truncated closed cylinder with said poppet valve forming the rightangled closed end of said cylinder and said inclined bafi'le forming the truncated closed end of said cylinder, and a guide wall means joining said plunger rod with said right-angled truncated closed cylinder.

5. A line sampling device according to claim 4 wherein said sample chamber means has a key-way therein for engaging said guide wall means to guide movement of said plunger in said chamber. 

1. A line sampling device for obtaining samples or product from a product line comprising, hollow sample chamber means defining a closed sample chamber in the interior thereof and determining the quantity of product to be sampled, a valve seat located on one end of said sample chamber means adapted to be inserted into an aperture of a product line to be substantially flush with an interior side wall of said line, a movable plunger in said chamber, a poppet valve on one end of said plunger adapted to seat on and to be substantially flush with said valve seat when said plunger is in the retracted position to seal said chamber from the interior of said product line, an inclined baffle on said plunger adjacent said poppet valve to direct flow of product from a product line through the valve seat into said chamber when said plunger is in the extended position, and a plunger rod connected to said plunger and extending through a side of said sample chamber means by which said plunger may be retracted and extended.
 2. A line sampling device according to claim 1 having in addition a purge conduit connected to said chamber through which a purge fluid may be introduced into said chamber and a flush conduit connected to said chamber through which product and purge fluid may be removed from said chamber.
 3. A line sampling device according to claim 2 having in addition purge valve means for controlling flow of purge fluid into said chamber, flush valve means for controlling flow of product and purge fluid from said chamber, purge valve safety control means for preventing opening of said purge valve when said plunger is in the extended position and poppet valve safety control means for preventing extension of said plunger when said flush valve means is open.
 4. A line sampling device according to claim 1 wherein said plunger comprises a right-angled truncated closed cylinder with said poppet valve forming the right-angled closed end of said cylinder and said inclined baffle forming the truncated closed end of said cylinder, and a guide wall means joining said plunger rod with said right-angled truncated closed cylinder.
 5. A line sampling device according to claim 4 wherein said sample chamber means has a key-way therein for engaging said guide wall means to guide movement of said plunger in said chamber. 